From the Editor
Well kids it looks like we have what is brewing to become a major controversy in this young season.

It all went down in the quarterfinal match of Stare-Till-You-Drop Austin between Philip Rockhammer and Tony Patterson.

For a minute it looked as if the king had been dethroned and Patterson had lost to his young opponent. Philip Rockhammer, began to celebrate in the ring and claimed that Patterson blinked, however, the official didn't see it and due to his movement Rockhammer was disqualified.

Members of the Rockhammer's camp protested violently and the scene threatened to get ugly until NASP officials were able to restore order. For his part Tony Patterson claims he never blinked and that Rockhammer was attempting some type of trick to beat him. However, Rockhammer's camp haven't let it die. "It's an (expletive) 'Phantom (expletive) Blink' is what it is and I won't rest until I get to the bottom of it," claimed Rockhammer's agent Donnie Anderson.

However, Patterson isn't planning on letting this controversy taint the joy of yet another victory. "I don't care what those whiners say, this championship is mine, this sport is mine and I don't plan on letting anyone take it away from me."

This rivalry is really heating up and I hope we get to see both of these guys at Nationals.

Sincerely,
Mark Chipwood
Staredown Analyst/ NASP Quarterly Editor-In-Chief

The Issue of Instant Replay
By Ernie Armstrong

In light of the recent events at the 2005 Stare-Till-You-Drop Austin, there have been some rumblings of a need for instant at NASP events.

As commissioner, I take my duty of protecting the integrity of Staredown very seriously and my decisions are not based on a whim, but are intended to help this sport maintain and grow over the course of time.

I understand the reasons people have put forward for the institution of instant replay, however, in my opinion at this time it is not right for the game. Staredown is a natural game and has been played that way for generations. It is also an honorable game. A game played by gentlemen who know when they've been beaten and it is our expectation that if a competitor blinks - and even if it is missed by a referee - he will have the integrity to disqualify himself.

Furthermore, we firmly believe in the professionalism and integrity of our officials. They have always been and will continue to be completely forthwith in their evaluation of a match and are dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the game.

As the sport of Staredown continues to grow and the stakes for winning the National Championship continue to increase it will be our role at the NASP to ensure that the level of officiating remains constant and firm. A goal we fully intend to meet.

Staredown Trivia (find the answer the next NASP Quarterly)
In which state was Ernie Armstrong, NASP commissioner born?

*The Ancient Greeks (answer to last issue's trivia question: Who were the first people to take part in organized Staredown tournaments?)

New Referee
We'd like to welcome Carl Anderson, the newest NASP referee. Carl is a skilled and pragmatic judge, and we are proud to have him joining our ranks.

Editor's Note: Next issue we will be proud to be adding a little historical perspective to our humble publication. Keep an eye out for Staredown 101. Staredown 101 will be a regular column by Staredown author and historian Alex Everett that will start to explore the anthropological underpinnings of the sport we love.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Yes, it's that time of the year again and right now on behalf of every one at NASP Quarterly and the NASP we'd like to extend our sincerest birthday wishes to our brave commissioner, Ernie Armstrong.

As always Ernie asked that I not reveal his age, because as we all know, he's no spring chicken anymore. Just joking, Ernie's as fresh as the day he was born.

Upcoming Events
The Rocky Top Rumble (Knoxville, TN) - June 11, 2005
Smackdown Dover (Dover, De) - August 13, 2005
Rockin' Reno Showdown (Reno, NV) - September 3, 2005
The Beehive State Open (Provo, UT) - September 10, 2005
The Toledo Challenge (Toledo, OH) - September 24, 2005
The Harvest Moon Jamboree (Ashville, NC) - October 8, 2005

The Smart Money (For entertainment purposes only)
Odds of winning The Biggest Little Staredown Tournament In The World
Manuel Martinez - 3 to 1
Philip Rockhammer - 3 to 1
Greg Doyle - 5 to 1
Adam “Hollywood” Lowe - 250 to 1